Swinging scaffold.



W. T. GALLAGHER.

SWINGING SGAFFOLD.

APPLICATION FILED saw. 26. 1913.

Patented Nov. 3, 1914.

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THE NORRIS PETERS COUPHCITO-LITI1 1. WASHINGTON, D. x

UNITED s'rn'rns PATENT onnion WILLIAM T. GALLAGHER, or RICHMOND,VIRGINIA.

SWIN'GING SCAFFOLD.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. 3, 1914.

Application filed September 26, 1913. Serial No. 792,021. a

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, WILLIAM T. GALLA eI-IIIR,a citizen of the United S-tates,-resid ing at Richmond, in the county ofHenrico and State of Virginia, have invented new and useful Improvementsin Swinging scaffolds, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to scaffolds and more particularly to swingingscaffolds.

In using the ordinary type of swinging scaffold on buildings with gableroofs it is either necessary to have one or two stages in operation orto shift the scaffold so as to paint the wall near the eaves. This alltakes considerable time and trouble and is obviated in the use of thepresent construction whose object it is to provide a scaffold havinginclined stages at opposite ends of the scaffold with folding stepsthereon which may be arranged out flat and in alinement with the mainportion of the scaffold so as to increase its length when necessary.

Another object of the invention is. the

provision of a scaffold constructed of hinged sections, two of which areadapted to be arranged in alinement with the other section or folded toproduce inclined stairs adapted to be raised or lowered independent ofthe other section.

Further objects of the invention will appear as the followingdescription is read in connection with the accompanying drawing, whichforms a part of this application, and in which Figure 1 is a perspectiveview showing the application of the scaffold to a gable roof. Fig. 2 isa detail longitudinalsection taken through the scaffold when in theposition shown in Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a similar view showing the stepsections of the scaffold alined. Fig. 4 is a detail top plan viewshowing the parts in alined position. Fig. 5 is a transverse sectionshowing the position of the bumper.

Referring more particularly to the drawing, the scaffold is constructedof the hingedly connected sections 1, 2 and 3. The section 1 isconstructed in the form of an ordinary swinging stage having the stiles4 and 5 connected together by the rungs 6 upon which is mounted theplatform 7 while the sections 2 and 3 are hinged to the end rungs of thesection 1 and have their overlapping ends 8 notched, as shown at 9, toengage the second rungs of the section 1, so asto pre vent the outerends of the sections 2 and 3' from raising beyondalinement withthesection 1 and so'asto lock all of the parts .in alinement when theentire scaffold is sup ported from the outer ends of thesections 2 and3. The sections 2 and 3 each compriseseparate stileslO and 11 heldtogether i 15 which overlap and are supported directly The links, as

upon the stiles 10 and 11. shown in Fig. 4, are pivoted upon the endrung 6 of the section 1 and are arranged in I connected pairs uponopposite sides of the sections 2 and 3, each pair being connected withthe adjoiningpair and the farther link of each pair having an extension16 provided with a notch 17 in its end adapted to engage one of therungs 12 which connect the stiles of said sections. In the positionshown in Fig. 3 the notched end of the farther link of the first pair isarranged to engage the next inner rung 12, as shown in Fig. 2, while theadjoining link of the second pair extends in a horizontal direction andits adjoining link will be arranged in vertical position and engagedwith the next outer rung. This arrangement is continued, as shown inFig. 2, to produce steps, the platform boards of which form treads andrisers.

In hanging this scaffold it will be noticed that the section 1 issupported at opposite terminals by the usual roof hooks 18, block andfalls 19 and stile engaging yokes 20 which are arranged at each end ofthe section and that the sections 2 and 3 are supported by similardevices connected to their outer ends. By this arrangement it will benoticed that the center section may be raised or lowered independentlyof the mechanism for supporting the outer ends of the sections 2 and 8and that these sections will swing inwardly or outwardly in accordancewith the raising and lowering of the section 1, although their fixedrelation to the section 1, as shown in Fig. 1, may bemaintained bymanipulating the block and falls supporting the outer end of the saidsections.

dinary swinging scaffold by supporting the entire structure from theouter ends of the sections 2 and 3, the extensions 8 engaging the secondrungs of the section 1 and holding all of the parts in alinement. Alsoit will be clearly understood how the device may be used as a plastersectlon, end sectlons hinged thereto, 1n-

terers scaffold by simply joining the two sections with a rope or cabletight to the lower rungs of each and stretched between said sections.The principal object of the invention, however, is its adaptability toall kinds of painting work where scaffolds are needed. v

The bumper shown in Fig. 5 at 22 is preferably arranged at the ends ofthe sections 1 and 2 so as to hold the scaffold separated from the wallbeing painted. This bumper comprises a rod having springs 23 arranged toengage the stiles of the sections and being provided with hooks 24.-through which the rod passes so as to prevent vertical displacement ofthe bumper. The springs may be pressed within the bumper so as to permitthe passage of the rod through the hooks 24:, as will be readilyunderstood.

What is claimed is 1. A scaffold platform comprising a center section,end sections hinged together and folding sectional platforms arranged onsaid end sections and adapted to be arranged in the form of stairs.

2. A scaffold platform comprising a center section having a platform,end sections hinged to said center sections, folding sectional platformsfor said end sections, and

means to support the folding platform in stalr forming posltlon.

3. A scaflold platform comprising a cendependent means for supportingthe center and end sections, folding sectional platforms upon said endsections, and means for supporting the platforms in step formingposition independent of their relation with the center section.

4L A scaffold platform comprising a center section, end sections hingedto the center section, folding sectional platforms carried by the endsections, means for supporting the platforms in step forming position,and means for preventing the outer sections from raising at their outerends beyond a position where the sections are alined.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

WVitnesses R. H. DAVIS,

JA ES G. RENNIE.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five eents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of Patents. Washington, D. G.

